(IC). An ion-exchange technique in which low concentrations of anions or cations are determined using low capacity ion exchangers with weak buffers. Conductivity detectors are often used. Ion chromatography is practiced in two terms. In suppressed IC, a second column is used to remove the buffer ions so that sample ions can be more easily detected: a membrane separator is sometimes used. In nonsuppressed IC, weakly conducting buffers at low concentration are carefully selected and the entire Eluent is passed through the detector: ions are detected above the background signal.